To third person writing or first?

I just started reading Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice. And was surprised it was written in first person perspective. This is a nice change from the third person narritives I usually read.

I've read both, but first person is rare.

When it's done well it's cool, but it's easier to mess up with it, in my opinion.

[ 08-29-2004, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: Luvian ]

I've read both also, and prefer third person. If the narrative is first person it can get confusing when events are describen in which the main character isn't taking part and it is also harder to get used to.

In general I prefer 3rd person, because it allows you to get into the mindset of a number of different characters, not just the one who's telling the story. On the other hand, in some circumstances 1st person can be really effective. It can be really interesting to only get one person's perspective, and what they think the other characters are thinking and how they are reacting to certain things. In the right story, 1st person can work really well.

I'm more accustomed to 3rd person, as it's more common, but some of my favourite writers write a lot in 1st person. (Wodehouse, Brust)

I second Luvian; when it's done well, it's a treat. When it's not...

I like both. I also like a healthy mix of the two (which can be achieved to great effect)

I like to write in this kind of way, but I probably mostly write in 3rd person.

But...my favourite books are by Robbin Hobb (the two assasins trilogys) so that kinda maintains the balance for me.

In Ulysses, both are used. Interior monologue basically composed of individual thoughts sort of plucked from a stream-of-consciousness and given names as words in first-person statement about this little thing or that little thing...

It's really incredible to read...

First person offers a way to see how a person would tell a story, third person is the author doing this, with you viewing their world through the lens they impart to you.

First person is fun because you can see how the character view the world. You don't get to learn that much about the main character in third person.

I especially like to see the main character thinking in first person.